FBI, IRS, and Partners Identify Sinaloa-Linked Drug Trafficking Organization and Seize $2.3 Million in Orange County in Ongoing Wiretap Investigation

Los Angeles, California - For the last two years, the FBI, IRS, and local law enforcement agencies have been investigating a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) with alleged ties to the area of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The FBI has utilized several investigative techniques to identify multiple locations where members of the DTO conduct illicit large-scale narcotics and money laundering activities, to include wiretaps and surveillance, among others.

Multiple suspected DTO members were identified during this investigation. Approximately one week ago, investigators developed information that led to a residence being used as a primary location by DTO members to store large amounts of narcotics in the city of Anaheim. On May 5, 2016, investigators served a search warrant on the 1200 block of West Katella in Anaheim, California, where $2.3 million was seized. Large amounts of money and narcotics have been seized previously during this ongoing investigation. Numerous bank accounts in the United States and internationally have been identified during this investigation and financial analysis of these accounts is ongoing.

No one has been arrested in connection with the Katella seizure at this time; however, anyone with information about individuals engaged in illegal narcotics activity in the general vicinity is urged to contact the FBI.